Van Halen – Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)

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it's ok, I'll do what I want
if I choose, I can take the fall
there's a choice
it's my destiny
in my hands
yeah it's up to me
I can drive
I can shoot a gun in the streets
score me some heroin
I can jump
be the sacrifice
bear my cross just like Jesus Christ
and I don't wanna hear what love can do
no, I ain't gonna tell ya what's right for you
is it right to take the easy way
close your eyes
get on your knees and pray
now you're saved by a higher voice
givin' up, givin' up, givin' up your choice
if I'm wrong then I'll pay for it
if I'm right, yeah you're gonna hear about it
but I've tried, yeah I've tried for it
I tried, I tried, 'til I'm satisfied
and I......
I'm tired of hearing what love can do
and I.....
ain't gonna tell you what's right for you
I've seen the damage done
down with the shotgun
don't stop the setting sun on my kingdom come
ohhhh.......
is it right to take the easy way
I don't know
I get on your knees and pray
now I'm saved by a higher voice
givin' up, givin' up, givin' up my choice
if I'm wrong then I'll pay for it
if I'm right, yeah you're gonna deal with it
'cause I've tried, yeah I tried for it
I tried, I tried, even die for it
no I.....
don't wanna hear what love can do
no I....
I can't tell you what's right for you
oh I.... I... I.....
tell you what love can do
no I... I... I...
can't say but your time is through
I've seen the damage done
oh Lord, I've heard the shotgun
I fought the setting sun on my kingdom come
ohhh.......
don't tell me what love can do
hey, hey, hey
don't tell me what love can do
hey, hey, hey

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Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Track duration: 05:56


Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do) song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:the song about them saying what love can't do in a relationship on the people who are in the relationship can do it.
    Flag Breakingbenjaminfanon May 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Alex Van Halen: Balance is a slice of our life. We hope it does to you what it did to us when we listened back to the record. I think one of the criteria whether (or not) you think it's a good record is 'Are you still moved by it?' Balance does it for me. My favorite song on the record is 'Don't Tell Me.' You crank it up in the fucking car and you can't help but start to drive faster. It moves me and I still don't know all the lyrics.
    Flag STRANGELIFEon May 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Alex Van Halen: The (songs are) actually written in two pieces; first the music by itself. If it holds up as a song, then you have a damn good basis to put lyrics over. Sammy walks in, and 9 times out of 10 - if not 99 out of 100 - his first reaction to it, what comes out of his mouth as he kind of scat sings along with it, generally ends up being the song.

    With this record, we spent a little more time asking Sammy to re-write stuff. Like, 'Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)' was originally 'What Love Can Do.' The whole slant of the song was one of universal love - that it can cure all and fix all, and the planet will be all right. Well, you hear so many people talking about it. I don't wanna hear it. Show me. I'm sick and tired of people telling me this shit. Then again, that's not the focus of the record, it's just one song. In it, we're saying 'Don't tell me this shit,' but (sequenced) right before this is a song called 'Can't Stop Loving You'.
    Flag STRANGELIFEon May 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I concur. The song appears to be a skeptic/freethinker's answer to religious proselytizing (specifically Christian, but it's applicable to all evangelizing religions) and to religious conservatives in general. I can relate; this very much describes my feelings about the religious community that I grew up in, though it's less bitter and resentful...
    Flag katryna669on August 01, 2005   Link

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